NC MP, Oppn protest outside CM's residence over reservation policy

A major protest led by National Conference's (NC) member parliament from Srinagar Ruhullah Mehdi and joined by some opposition leaders and youth against the recently amended job reservation policy was held outside the residence of chief minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Monday.

- Ashiq Hussain

SRINAGAR:

Amid the protest, chief minister Omar called a group of students to talk.

"Omar sab listened to our concerns, including rationalisation of reservation and time-bound outcome of cabinet sub-committee. He said that they will work on it. He sought a six-month time frame as they have to talk to all other stakeholders. We wanted a shorter time frame," said a student leader Aqib Ahmad after the meeting with Omar.

Omar also tweeted over the issue. "Today I met the representatives of the Open Merit Students Association. The beauty of democracy is the right to be heard and dialogue in a spirit of mutual cooperation. I have made certain requests of them and given them a number of assurances. This channel of communication will remain open without any intermediaries or hangers on," he said.

The protesters shouted slogans against the reservation policy which had increased the reservation in jobs and admissions for reserved categories to over 60% earlier this year.

Opposition leaders from Peoples Democratic Party, including Waheed Parra and Iltija Mufti also joined the protest alongside Mehdi. Awami Ittihad Party leader Sheikh Khursheed, brother of incarcerated Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, also became part of the protest demonstration. Mehdi acknowledged the presence of all the opposition leaders.